Electrical surgical tools for circumcision

Abstract

A male circumcision device includes a ring component and a cutting component. The ring component includes a base portion and a shaft. and an electrode disposed on the base portion or the shaft. The cutting component includes a body defining an inner aperture and a cutting implement having an electrically-conductive portion disposed at a distal end of the cutting component. The device also includes a power source for applying an electrical current through the electrode and through the electrically-conductive portion of the cutting component when the cutting component is coupled to the ring component during a cutting operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A male circumcision device comprising:
 a ring component comprising:
 a base portion having a first electrode; and 
 a shaft having a second electrode; and 
   a cutting component comprising:
 a body defining an inner aperture; 
 an electrically-conductive cutting implement disposed at a distal end of the cutting component; and 
 a third electrode disposed in the aperture; 
   wherein the cutting implement electrically couples with the first electrode, and the third electrode electrically couples with the second electrode, when the cutting component is in close proximity to the base portion with the shaft inserted in the inner aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The male circumcision device of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source electrically coupled to the cutting implement and to the third electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The male circumcision device of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode comprises an annular, proximal-facing surface. 
     
     
         4 . The male circumcision device of  claim 1 , wherein the second electrode comprises an annular electrode disposed about the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The male circumcision device of  claim 1 , wherein the third electrode comprises an annular electrode disposed about the aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The male circumcision device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fourth electrode disposed on the shaft and electrically coupled to the cutting component; and   a fifth electrode disposed in the aperture;   wherein the fifth electrode electrically couples with the fourth electrode when the cutting component is in close proximity to the base portion with the shaft inserted in the inner aperture.   
     
     
         7 . The male circumcision device of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting component is annular about a central axis, wherein the aperture is defined about the axis. 
     
     
         8 . The male circumcision device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft defines and extends along a longitudinal ring component axis, wherein the base portion and the first electrode have larger respective diameters than the shaft with respect to the longitudinal ring component axis. 
     
     
         9 . A method of circumcising a penis, the method comprising:
 inserting a ring of a ring component within a foreskin, the ring component comprising an electrode;   placing an axial cutting device about the ring component, the axial cutting device comprising an electrically-conductive cutting component;   radially clamping the foreskin against a circumference of the ring;   applying an electrical current through the electrode and the electrically-conductive cutting component; and   cutting the foreskin while the electrical current is applied.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the electrode of the ring component is annular and disposed on a proximal surface of the ring. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the electrode of the ring component is annular and disposed on a shaft of the ring component. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the electrically-conductive cutting element is a metallic blade. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the electrically conductive cutting component comprises a coil and a blade, wherein applying the electrical current through the coil causes the blade to be inductively heated. 
     
     
         14 . A male circumcision device comprising:
 a ring component comprising:
 a base portion and a shaft; and 
 an electrode disposed on the base portion or the shaft; 
   a cutting component comprising:
 a body defining an inner aperture; 
 a cutting implement comprising an electrically-conductive portion disposed at a distal end of the cutting component; and 
   a power source for applying an electrical current through the electrode and through the electrically-conductive portion of the cutting component when the cutting component is coupled to the ring component during a cutting operation.   
     
     
         15 . The male circumcision device of  claim 14 , wherein the electrically-conductive portion of the cutting component comprises a metallic blade. 
     
     
         16 . The male circumcision device of  claim 14 , wherein the cutting component comprises a coil and a blade, wherein applying the electrical current through the coil causes the blade to be inductively heated. 
     
     
         17 . The male circumcision device of  claim 14 , wherein the electrode is a first electrode and the device further comprises a second electrode, disposed about the aperture of the cutting component and configured to be electrically coupled with the first electrode during the cutting operation. 
     
     
         18 . The male circumcision device of  claim 14 , wherein the electrode is disposed on the base portion and comprises an annular, proximal-facing surface. 
     
     
         19 . The male circumcision device of  claim 14 , wherein the electrode is disposed on the shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The male circumcision device of  claim 14 , wherein the shaft defines and extends along a longitudinal ring component axis, wherein the base portion and the electrode have larger respective diameters than the shaft with respect to the longitudinal ring component axis.